Interview with Author Martin Clark

Can you tell us a little what your story, "No County for Young Men," is about?

In format it's a fairly conventional High Noon scenario with the
narrator awaiting the arrival of his potential nemesis. However this
is a Steampunk 'Old West,' where weaponry can have a mind of its own.

How did you come up with the idea?

To be honest this is an adaptation of a scene from a conventional
Western background project that, realistically, I'll never have the
time to complete. I recently re-read The Difference Engine, and it
set me to thinking how such 'trickle down' technology would have
influenced development outside Victorian Europe.

What is your inspiration for writing as a whole?

The work of William Gibson, Michael Moorcock, and Philip K. Dick. I
enjoy storytelling, even though it can prove to be an exercise in
frustration--trying to bridge the gap between the ideas in your head
and their realisation on the page.

Could you tell us a bit about yourself?

I'm from Dumfries, in south-west Scotland, but spent my 20s and 30s
in Glasgow, Birmingham, London, and Edinburgh before settling back
here. After twenty-something years in computing I now work in local
government. I'm married (second time around), which allows me to play
the part of evil step-father.

Where can listeners find more of your work?

I'm the author of supernatural noir novellas, originally published
by Eggplant Literary Productions (now sadly defunct), but their status
is currently 'pending.' My first novel, Whisper My Name, is available on
Kindle from Amazon; although some of the characters happen to be
vampires this is decidedly more 'Get Carter' with fangs than
'Twilight.' In addition I've had short stories published in other
Third Flatiron anthologies and e-magazines such as Nebula Rift (now
Storyteller), Timeless Tales, Kraxon Magazine, and Mythaxis.

Any new work we should keep an eye out for?

Not Here, Not Now, the first novella in a proposed urban
fantasy trilogy, is currently being edited.

Takedown by Tsutomu Shimomura.

Editor's Note: If you enjoyed this story, you might be
interested in reading the whole anthology, Principia Ponderosa,
with many more great stories. It's available on
Amazon.